Bernd Sturmfels to Receive Honorary Degree from Uni Chicago

Bernd Sturmfels is a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. After receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Bern, this is the second Doctor of Science h. c. he has been awarded during the past weeks. The committee underlines his advancing symbolic and numerical techniques for solving systems of nonlinear polynomial equations and inequalities, and connecting algebraic geometry with applications in biology, combinatorics, optimization and statistics.

In the faculty’s nominating statement, he is characterised as follows: “Bernd Sturmfels is an exceptional and prolific mathematician of extraordinary impact, whose distinguished academic career has spanned the realms of pure and applied mathematics. Sturmfels has been instrumental in building bridges with computer science and statistics. He has developed new areas of mathematics motivated by problems in science and engineering. One of his most important contributions was his creation of applied algebraic geometry. Some high points of this new subject include algebraic biology, algebraic statistics, and convex algebraic geometry.

In addition to laying some of the most important foundations and cornerstones of applied algebraic geometry, Sturmfels has brought together colleagues through conferences and programs and has educated students and postdoctoral fellows around the world through a series of summer schools. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) Activity Group on Applied Algebraic Geometry, and he founded the SIAM Journal on Applied Algebra and Geometry, serving as its first editor-in-chief. Sturmfels is the only living winner of both the George Birkhoff Prize, the highest award in applied mathematics from the American Mathematical Society, and the John von Neumann Prize, which is the highest honor awarded by SIAM. He is also one of the most highly cited mathematicians in his field.

The Committee on Computational and Applied Mathematics is proud to offer the nomination of Bernd Sturmfels for the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, for advancing symbolic and numerical techniques for solving systems of nonlinear polynomial equations and inequalities, and connecting algebraic geometry with applications in biology, combinatorics, optimization and statistics.”

The honour will be presented at the University's Convocation ceremony in June.